Washing powder to cure eczema

An amazing new washing powder and soap could put an end to the agonising itch of eczema, which affects up to 15 per cent of children and 10 per cent of adults.

The products originate from a soap recipe devised by miners in a small town in County Durham.

Twelve years ago, a group of them began to make the soap - which contains natural palm oil and silicon salt - because they found it helped with their dry, inflamed skin caused by their work in the mines.

In time, other locals found the soap also had a beneficial effect on eczema and other skin conditions, including psoriasis and contact dermatitis. The soap grew in popularity and a washing powder was also developed.

Eventually, the products caught the attention of a local GP, Dr Mark Randle, who in April this year decided to carry out a trial on 200 of his patients with skin problems.

In his trial, Dr Randle asked his patients to use both the soap and the washing powder. The washing powder contains tallowate, an animal fat, as well as the palm oil. After using both products for eight weeks, onethird of eczema sufferers reported that their condition cleared completely. More than half reported a major improvement and 12.5 per cent a slight improvement.

Over the same period, 6.4 per cent of psoriasis sufferers reported that their condition completely cleared. Fifty per cent noticed a major improvement, and 25 per cent had a slight improvement. Seventeen per cent reported no change.

THE results were enough to convince Dr Randle that the products did work. He bought the distribution rights to the soap and powder and devised an eight-week skin cleansing programme that he called Skin Salvation.

He believes the soap works by creating a protective layer over the affected skin that helps the skin to heal.

It is thought this is due mainly to the presence of silicon salt. There is increasing clinical evidence on the use of forms of silicon to heal skin. Indeed, three types of silicon gel sheets are available on NHS prescription for treatment of scar tissue.

The washing powder works by removing dead skin cells in clothing that, if left, can lead to new outbreaks of eczema. The powder and soap contain no phosphates or other chemical fillers, which dermatologists say can be irritants to eczema and psoriasis.

No other perfumes, toiletries or fabric conditioners should be used during the programme.

Since the treatment has gone into production, word has spread and other local doctors have begun to recommend it to their patients.

Dr Stephen Drew is an independent GP in Durham who, after hearing about the soap, carried out a small trial with Skin Salvation on his own patients. He says: 'I gave the treatment to 20 of my patients with eczema and psoriasis. I was surprised and impressed by the results and now recommend it to other patients. 'I have no idea why or how it works, but it does. It seems to be as effective as steroid creams but without the side-effects.'